"Tell me and I'll forget,show me and I may remember,involve me and I'll understand" Chinese Proverb

"The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways." John F. KennedyFranklin County Beekeepers Association MA. http://www.franklinmabeekeepers.org/

Some tips on OUR frames, knock an extra nail in at all corners. Trim the wax sheets by a cm or so, makes it easier to attach the wires. Ive used the same transformer for 4 years with wire and aligator clips. I put the wax in the freezer before using, makes it easier to melt in coz they dead flat. If your wire is loose, shove in a bit of stick cut in half under the wire on the outside of the frame, I do two to make equal pressure. You can also do this to reuse loose frames after extraction. Tightens them up a beauty.

I never use a wedge. Sometimes I will shove a bit of wax on each side of the bottom of the sheet if I think anything looks a bit loose.

I was lucky enough to get a crash course in constructing a hive from the other brother at the shop. I think Gordon died because I havent seen him for years. The Redpaths have also written several books on beekeeping. Them what run the shop now can seem a bit mean on the advice side, but thats just them. If you ask, they will tell. The other bloke was a hoot, a gregarious character. he gave me this 25 min crash course as the shop was closing, "are you with me" kind of thing. Showed me how to build and wire a frame, put together bottom board, cover, supers all the time giving me a running commentary on bees. I reckon I learnt 90% of whats necessary in that short time and years since just confirming what he told me.

Theres another bloke in Vic in Northcote, me in Carrum and Hill Billy Geoff down Sale way. Thats it for the Vics, so its good to have you just 20k down the track.

Redpaths have reasonable prices, you wont really beat them interstate coz of shipping costs. if they havent got it they will get it.